Improvement in devices for preventing cows from kicking



T'. A. WATROUS. Device for Preventing Cows from Kicking.

No. 218,096. Patented July 29,1879.

g 2? a7. 5253? mum/11 g e UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. WATROUS, 0F WELLSBOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR PREVENTING COWS FROM KICKING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,096, dated July 29, 1879 application filed March 3, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS Aus'rnv WAT- ROUS, of Wellsborough, in the county of Tioga and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and Improved Device for Preventing (lows from Kicking; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation; Fig. 2, a rear elevation, and Fig. 3 a top-plan view.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures denote the same parts.

My invention has for its object to provide forv general use a cheap, simple, and effective device for preventing milch-cows from kicking while being milked, and also for securing their tails, to prevent annoyance to the milker; and it consists, primarily, of a rigid two-part boot or case, adapted to be fitted upon the animals leg over the gambrel-joint, and constructed so as to bear snugly and uniformly at all points, to prevent chafing, &c.

It further consists in means for effecting the adjustment of the said two-part case, to accommodate the same to the legs of different animals, and for locking said case in adjusted position.

It further consists in the combination, with the boot or case aforesaid, of a device for securing the tail of the animal, all of which I will now proceed to describe.

Referring to the drawings, A B represent, respectively, the front and rear parts of the case or boot, constructed of zinc or galvanized iron, and shaped to conform to that portion of the hind leg of a cow which extends from the smallest part-i. 0., about th ree inches above the dew-claws--to the fleshy part above the gambrel-joint.

I preferably form the parts of the case by striking them up from sheets of metal by means of dies or other suitable appliances, the stock employed being of such strength and rigidityas to retain under all circumstances, the shape imparted to it.

The lower end of the part A is provided with a metal band, 0, preferably of malleable iron, which is flattened at its projecting extremities, and provided with a series of perforations adapted to receive downwardly projecting spurs or projections d d, formed upon a band, D, on the lower end of the part B. The upper end of the part A is also provided with a wide metal band, E, having a series of notches or shoulders, e e, on the inner sides of its projecting portions, with which spring-catches, mounted on the upper end of the part B, are adapted to engage.

Said spring-catches may be of any suitable construction, though I prefer to employ the kind shown in the drawings-namely, two bolts, F F, supported and guided by straps f f, and kept normally projected by means of a spring, G, interposed between their inner ends.

To apply the case to an animals leg the part A is first placed over the front thereof with one hand, while the part B is raised with the other hand by means of a handle, H, and the spurs or projections d d are then inserted into one of the series of holes in the ends of the band C. The part B is then closed snugly against the rear of the leg, the spring-catches engaging with the notches or shoulders on the band E, thus securely locking the parts together, and holding the leg perfectly stiff and preventing kicking. The case fits snugly and evenly on all parts of the leg, and consequently the most violent exertions of the animal will not cause it to rub and chafe, or in any way injure her.

To remove the case the handle H of the part B is grasped, and by the pressure of the thumb and finger the bolts F F are simultaneously disengaged, thus enabling the spurs to be lifted out of their sockets and the parts A B to be taken off.

It will be seen that the provision of the series of perforations in the band C and the series of notches or shoulders in the band E adapt the device to legs of different sizes.

To the rear of the part B, I secure the tail-fastening device. This consists of a piece of metal, T, having two upper prongs, t t and a lower prong, t fastened near its middle to the part B by rivets or other suitable means.

When the case or boot is in position on the animals leg the bushy end of her tail is brought down over the plate, under the prong t again over the middle of the plate, then under the prong z from the inside, then over the said prong t and finally under the prong t, thus making the tail fast and preventing annoyance to the milker.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new- 1. A device for preventing cows from kicking, consisting ofa rigid two-part case of metal to fit upon the animals leg over the galnbreljoint, provided with suitable adjusting devices, and adapted to entirel ineiose said portion of the leg, whereby a continuous bearing-surface is afforded and chafing and straining of the muscles prevented, substantially as described.

2. The part A, having the band 0, provided with the series of perforations, in combination with the part B, provided with spurs or projections for engaging with said perforations, and with means for locking together the upper ends of the said parts A and B, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the part A, perforated band (J, and band E, provided with notches orshoulders, with the part B,havingthe springbolts F F, substantially as described.

4. The tail-holder T, attached to the part B, and having the prongs t' t" t-', substantially as described.

THOMAS AUSTIN WATROUS.

Witnesses JOSEPH BARKER, JOHN R. BARKER. 

